Boston Bruins goalie Tim Thomas of Davison explains his hit on Henrik Sedin in Game 3 of Stanley Cup Finals that has hockey world buzzing

View full sizeThe Associated PressVancouver Canucks forward Henrik Sedin goes crashing to the ice after being checked by Boston Bruins goalie Tim Thomas of Davison in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Finals

FLINT, Michigan — Tim Thomas may not have the fiery personality of former Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Ron Hextall.

But a story on the Vancouver Sun's website compared the two after Thomas leveled Vancouver Canuck Henrik Sedin with a huge check during the third period of the Boston Bruins 8-1 victory Monday in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Finals.

Thomas, the Boston goaltender from Davison, was named the game's No. 1 star after stopping 40 of 41 shots. And, of course, nailing Sedin in front of the net. (Video of the hit)

Thomas explained the hit this way:

“He was catching the puck. That happens a lot in practice off of rebounds and stuff like that, where the guy reaches up to catch the puck. I’ve learned from practice if you wait for him, he can put it down this way or he can put it down this way. I get scored on in practice if I sit back and try to react to where he sits the puck down with his hand. I had 1/100th of a second to make a decision of what I was going to do. That’s the way I decided to play it to try to keep the puck out of the net.”

The Sun's story called the hit "beautiful" but questioned whether it was legal or not.